RUTHY FUNG

Where do you stand in the issue of piracy? I grew up watching movies especially duing my teenage years. Every end of the year, i would go to KL and buy pirated DVDs. Mainly because they’re like RM10 for each DVD and RM3 for a CD. So cheap! Plus, the quality is as good as the original ones. Who would choose to buy originals? You get all the benefits plus you know lar Asians, cheap=best. 

Dad use to say that it’s ok if we buy pirated stuff, as long as we don’t sell it. For our own use it’s ok. It is so easy to just download stuff on Limewire or other softwares when you need it. Easy access! Don’t even have to think twice. Just go in, download and two hours later, you’ll be happily watching the movies already.

What about Christian music? By right, under copyright laws, churches are required to pay a fee to print music lyrics passed out during services, or displayed in any way for the congregation. So is a poor church not allowed to sing the song given by God for the edification of the church because it doesn’t have enough money to pay the fee? Many people are moved through the music given as spiritual gifts to Christian musicians. What if another soul was saved because of the music that was played and the church didn’t pay for the fees?

What about people who have no money to buy Christian music? Shouldn’t they have the right to listen to Christian music too? Sharing is caring. Should we be sharing our music so that they know we care for them? Tough call?

However, Romans 13:1 says ‘Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.’ The Bible says it all, doesn’t it? 

At shepherding today i learnt about my spouse selection. It is probably the second most important decision in my life, after making my decision to follow Christ all the days of my life. One that loves God, someone that complements me to serve God and someone that shares the same vision as me!

I heard the news today. Malaysia’s Prime Minister is getting re-married. His first wife died of breast cancer in 2005. Since they are Muslims, they are allowed to marry up to 4 wives. Apparently he’s getting married to a woman who was his wife’s brother’s wife. But they got divorced. Man, speaking about dramas. I mean, they’re related!!! Marrying his former sister-in-law. Any thoughts about this? I wonder if they actually talked through their visions in life. Or was it like a ‘i love you and you love me so lets get married’ kinda thing, mainly i think that because his wife died not too long ago.

Ruth in the Bible re-married when her husband died. I was just thinking…will i re-marry if my husband died early? I pray that he won’t! Dying together would be good!hehehe..How romantic! 

Personally, i have never thought about adopting babies. Because of my own selfish nature, i always wanted to have my own kids. Yes, MY OWN kids. Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about some friends wanting to adopt babies. It was an eye opener for me. I see the bigger picture now. By adopting babies, you can spare another life. You can bring HOPE to a life. Also, you can help the baby’s mother. You may never know, she could be a poor single mum just wanting to ‘have fun’. You can help her by lifting the burden off her shoulders. There are many many unplanned babies in this world. Even though these babies might not be planned by their parents, God planned them. Just a thought, should i adopt babies in the future? Let God lead. 

I was just talking to my friend over MSN. Like what most Malaysians in Australia would talk about. Whether to stay in Australia or go back to Malaysia after studies. Malaysia is a very comfortable place – no housework, cheap stuff, mamak stalls *drools*. But.. one of the things that really dissapoint me is the corruption that has been taking place. Sad to say, corruption has become a culture in Malaysia. I remember once when mum and I was in the car. Mum is a ‘puteri lilin’ so she put shades on the window so the sun wouldn’t shine directly on her. The police stopped us. Mum panicked. The police gave mum an envelope, telling her to write her identity card number on it. Mum being so naive, didn’t understand. The police wanted mum to put money in the envelope! She finally understood what the police was saying after a while. Mum was wise, she didn’t give corruption. Instead, she asked for the $200 bill so she can pay at the police station. The police is so lazy to even write the bill, he thinks it’s a waste of time and a big hassle to even write a bill! Can’t believe it. In the end, the police let us go..and we didn’t have to pay a single cent! I don’t think this will happen in Australia since the laws are so strict. These ppl ah..do they even know by setting this culture, they are really in trouble. They don’t look ahead, they don’t see the future. I mean one day if there is no more corruption, they are seriously NOT gonna survive!! I’m so glad mum made that choice to pay the bill instead of giving ‘dirty money’ to the police. She has set a good example for me to follow. I was also reminded of 2 Peter 2:20

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

I’m really glad i come from a family that doesn’t believe in corruption. As you know, it is very hard to survive in Malaysia without giving corruption. People use different terms such as ‘gifts’. We do not receive these ‘gifts’. I’ve heard many times, when dad goes to a meeting, wanting to get a project.  Everyone who is fighting for the project will give ‘gifts’, but dad chose not to. God will provide all our needs, we do not have to do all these ‘things’ to get the job. If it is yours, it is yours. When you honour God, God will honour you back!